Lead sleeve cutter

ABSTRACT

A pair of side-by-side elongated flexible tension member sections anchored relative to and extending along a member to be slit with the tension member sections tensioned and paralleling each other, a follower being provided and guidingly engaged with the tension members for movement there along and including a cutting wheel for cutting the member to be slit as the follower is moved there along.

United States Patent 1 Long [ 1 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] LEAD SLEEVE CUTTER [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Joe D. Guerriero, Monroe, La. a

part interest 22 Filed: June 14, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 152,684

Bobby R. Long, Monroe, La.

[52] U.S. Cl ..30/90.4, 30/95, 33/21 C [51] Int. Cl ..B26d 3/16, B26b 27/00 [58] Field of Search ..30/90.1, 90.4, 90.7, 90.8,

30/92-96, 292; 83/614; 269/131; 266/23 N, 23 NN; 33/21 R, 21 C, 32 R, 32 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,291,395 7/1942 Levey ..30/97 2,817,491 12/1957 Hinderliter ..269/13l 2,851,265 9/1958 Cink i i ..266/23 N 3,153,281 10/1964 Bloomer ..30/92.5

Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A pair of side-by-side elongated flexible tension member sections anchored relative to and extending along a member to be slit with the tension member sections tensioned and paralleling each other, a follower being provided and guidingly engaged with the tension members for movement there along and including a cutting wheel for cutting the member to be slit as the follower is moved there along.

l0 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENT'ED JAN 30 I973 SHEEI 1 OF 2 Bobby R. Lang I A\' VENTOR.

PAIENIEnmao I973 3.713.216

- SHEET 2 [IF 2 SWI IIIIIIIIAVIIIIII S 'II'I'I'I'III'IA E Bobby R. Long 7 (NVENTOR.

BY @Mm MW m."

LEAD SLEEVE CUTTER The lead sleeve cutter of the instant invention has been specifically designed to enable a lead sleeve extending about a plurality of telephone wires to be readily cut. Although the lead sleeve cutter has been specifically designed for use in conjunction with lead encased telephone cables, the cutter may also be utilized in conjunction with electrical power transmission lines and in other environments when it becomes necessary to cut a lead or similar sleeve of relatively soft material.

The lead sleeve cutter of the instant invention is unique in that it may be utilized not only to cut about the circumference of a lead sleeve but to also cut an associated sleeve lengthwise. While there are various types of sleeve and tubing cutters presently on the market that are capable of cutting about the circumference of a lead or similar sleeve, most of these previously known devices are extremely bulky and therefore cannot be utilized where space is severely limited. Further, these previous sleeve cutters are not capable of also forming a longitudinal cut in a lead or similar sleeve.

The main object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which may be readily utilized to cut not only the circumference but also lengthwise through a lead sleeve.

Another object of this invention in accordance with the immediately preceding object is to provide an apparatus which will be capable of making either circumferential or lengthwise cuts in lead sleeves and the like when working space is limited.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a lead sleeve cutter in accordance with the preceding objects constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily operatively associated with a lead sleeve or the like to be cut.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lead sleeve cutter that may be readily adjusted in length so as to be adapted to cut about the circumference of lead sleeves of various diameters.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a lead sleeve cutter which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lead sleeve cutter of the instant invention in operative association with a lead sleeve to be cut about its circumference;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lead sleeve illustrated in FIG. 1 after the sleeve has been cut by the cutter of the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. 1 and with portions of the cutter broken away and illustrated in vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lead sleeve cutter minus the follower from which the lead sleeve cutting wheel is journalled and with a setscrew portion of the cutter illustrated in exploded position;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the lead sleeve cutter operatively associated with a lead sleeve in a manner to cut a longitudinal slit therein; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a lead encased telephone cable including an intermediate diametrically enlarged lead sleeve portion 12 to have a circumferential cut made therein.

The lead sleeve cutter of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 and includes a pair of anchor blocks 16 and 18 for disposition in closely spaced side-by-side relation and provided with aligned bores 16' and 18', respectively, the bore 16 is smooth and slightly larger in diameter than the bore 18 which is threaded. A tension bolt 20 has its shank 22 passed through the smooth bore 16' and thr'eadedly engaged in the threaded bore 18'. The head 24 of the bolt 20 is disposed for bighting engagement with the side of the anchor 16 remote from the anchor 18 and thus rotation of the bolt 20 in a clockwise direction will cause the anchor 18 to be drawn toward the anchor 16 and rotation of the bolt 20 in a counterclockwise direction will allow the anchor 18 to move away from the anchor 16.

The anchor 16 is provided with a transverse bore 26 with which a setscrew 28 is operatively associated and the anchor 18 is provided with a transverse bore 30 through which the midportion of a flexible tension cable 32 is passed and slidingly received. The opposite ends of the tension cable 32 are passed through the bore 26 in opposite directions and secured in position against longitudinal shifting through the bore 26 by means of the setscrew 28 after the latter is tightened.

A follower assembly referred to in general by reference numeral 33 is provided and includes an elongated crosshead 33 from whose opposite ends a pair of laterally outwardly projecting and generally parallel handles 34 are removably secured by means of fasteners 36.

The crosshead 33' includes a pair of aligned journal blocks 38 through which an axle defining bolt 40 is secured and a cutting wheel 42 is journalled upon the bolt 40 intermediate the journal blocks 38 and a pair of washers 44 disposed on the bolt 40 between the journal blocks 38. Further, the crosshead 33' includes a pair of transverse bores 46 through which the tension member sections comprising the opposite ends of the tension cable 32 are slidingly received.

In operation, and with attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, the lead sleeve cutter 14 is positioned relative to the sleeve 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. With the bolt 20 rotated in a counterclockwise direction to space the anchors l6 and 18 apart, the free ends of the tension cable 32 are pulled through the bore 26 in opposite directions until the tension member sections extending between the anchors 16 and 18 are as tight as possible. Then the setscrew 28 is tightened to secure the end portions of the tension cable 32 against shifting longitudinally through the bore 26. Thereafter, the bolt 20 may be tightened in order to draw the anchor 18 toward the anchor 16 and to thus further tension the tension member sections defined by the opposite ends of the tension cable 32. Of course, the tension member sections parallel each other as they extend about the circumference of the sleeve 12 and are deflected away from the latter by the follower 33 as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Further, with the tension cable 32 tensioned previously by drawing the anchor 18 toward anchor 16, the peripheral portion of the cutting wheel 42 adjacent the sleeve 12 is wedged into the latter so that a circumferential slit 50 will be formed in the sleeve 12 as the follower 33 is forced about the circumference of the sleeve 12 by manual pressure applied to the handles 34. Finally, due to the existence of the anchors l6 and 18, the follower 33 may not be moved completely about the circumference of the sleeve 12 without at least somewhat shifting the tension cable 32 and the anchor 16 and 18 about the circumference of the sleeve 12. In any event, a continuous slit 50 may be formed in the sleeve 12 by movement of the follower 33 completely thereabout under the guiding action of the tensioned tension cable 32.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, it may be seen that the lead sleeve cutter 14 may be operatively associated with the sleeve 12 in a manner such that the cutter 14 may be utilized to form a longitudinal slit 52 in the sleeve 12.

In order to form a longitudinal slit, the tension cable 32 has its midportion encircled about the telephone cable at one end of the sleeve 12 and the free ends of the tension cable 32 passed about the telephone cable 10 at the opposite end of the sleeve 12 in opposite directions and anchored to themselves by means of wire clamps 56 which each may be similar to the anchor 16. In this manner, the tension cable 32 may have the opposite ends thereof secured relative to the sleeve 12 so as to extend longitudinally thereof in parallel relation. Of course, the follower 33 is engaged with the opposite end portions of the tension cable 32 and is thus movable along the sleeve 12 lengthwise of the latter when the tension cable is tensioned in order to form the longitudinal slit 52in the sleeve 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of 'the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sleeve cutting assembly comprising first and second spaced anchors, means operatively connected between said anchors for adjustably drawing the over toward each other, a pair of side-by-side elongated flexible tension member sections having one pair of ends anchored relative to one of said anchors in slightly spaced apart relation and a second pair of ends anchored relative to the other of said anchors in similar spaced apart relation, and a follower having a pair of uide means also slightly spaced apart with which said ension member sections are guidingly engaged follower including a cutter adapted to cut a slit in a surface under which said follower is moved.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said follower comprises an elongated member, said guide means being spaced along said elongated member, the opposite ends of said elongated member including handle means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cutter is disposed between said guide means and on the side of a line connecting said guide means remote from said handies.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said guide means comprise parallel bores formed through said elongated member centrally intermediate its opposite ends.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tension member sections comprise opposite end portions of a single elongated flexible tension member, said tension member being doubled intermediate its opposite ends by a reverse bend formed therein, one of said anchors having a transverse bore formed therethrough, the intermediate portion of said tension member being passed through said bore, the other of said anchors having a transverse bore formed therethrough, the free ends of said tension member being passed through the last mentioned bore in opposite directions, the last mentioned anchor including means engageable with the free ends of said tension member to prevent longitudinal shifting thereof relative to the bore through which the free ends of said tension member are passed.

6. A sleeve cutting assembly comprising first and second anchors, a pair of elongated flexible tension members, said anchors including means for engagement with said tension members to secure the latter in generally parallel relation extending along a workpiece to be slit, a follower having a pair of guide means with which said tension members are guidingly engaged, whereby said follower may be guided by said tension members, said follower including a cutter adapted to cut a slit in said surface as said follower is moved thereover while being guided by said tension members.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said tension members comprise opposite end portions of a single elongated tension member.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said follower includes an elongated member, said guide means being spaced along said elongated member intermediate its opposite ends, the opposite ends of said elongated member being provided with handle means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said guide means includes transverse bores formed through the central portion of said elongated member and spaced longitudinally thereof, said cutter being disposed on the side of a line extending between said guide means remote from said handle means.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said cutter comprises a sharpened cutter wheel. I 

1. A sleeve cutting assembly comprising first and second spaced anchors, means operatively connected between said anchors for adjustably drawing the over toward each other, a pair of side-by-side elongated flexible tension member sections having one pair of ends anchored relative to one of said anchors in slightly spaced apart relation and a second pair of ends anchored relative to the other of said anchors in similar spaced apart relation, and a follower having a pair of guide means also slightly spaced apart with which said tension member sections are guidingly engaged whereby said follower may be guided by said tension member sections when said sections are tensioned, said follower including a cutter adapted to cut a slit in a surface under which said follower is moved.
 1. A sleeve cutting assembly comprising first and second spaced anchors, means operatively connected between said anchors for adjustably drawing the over toward each other, a pair of side-byside elongated flexible tension member sections having one pair of ends anchored relative to one of said anchors in slightly spaced apart relation and a second pair of ends anchored relative to the other of said anchors in similar spaced apart relation, and a follower having a pair of guide means also slightly spaced apart with which said tension member sections are guidingly engaged whereby said follower may be guided by said tension member sections when said sections are tensioned, said follower including a cutter adapted to cut a slit in a surface under which said follower is moved.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said follower comprises an elongated member, said guide means being spaced along said elongated member, the opposite ends of said elongated member including handle means.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cutter is disposed between said guide means and on the side of a line connecting said guide means remote from said handles.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said guide means comprise parallel bores formed through said elongated member centrally intermediate its opposite ends.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tension member sections comprise opposite end portions of a single elongated flexible tension member, said tension memBer being doubled intermediate its opposite ends by a reverse bend formed therein, one of said anchors having a transverse bore formed therethrough, the intermediate portion of said tension member being passed through said bore, the other of said anchors having a transverse bore formed therethrough, the free ends of said tension member being passed through the last mentioned bore in opposite directions, the last mentioned anchor including means engageable with the free ends of said tension member to prevent longitudinal shifting thereof relative to the bore through which the free ends of said tension member are passed.
 6. A sleeve cutting assembly comprising first and second anchors, a pair of elongated flexible tension members, said anchors including means for engagement with said tension members to secure the latter in generally parallel relation extending along a workpiece to be slit, a follower having a pair of guide means with which said tension members are guidingly engaged, whereby said follower may be guided by said tension members, said follower including a cutter adapted to cut a slit in said surface as said follower is moved thereover while being guided by said tension members.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said tension members comprise opposite end portions of a single elongated tension member.
 8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said follower includes an elongated member, said guide means being spaced along said elongated member intermediate its opposite ends, the opposite ends of said elongated member being provided with handle means.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said guide means includes transverse bores formed through the central portion of said elongated member and spaced longitudinally thereof, said cutter being disposed on the side of a line extending between said guide means remote from said handle means. 